The beloved cathedral in Garden Grove, California, is slated for renovation under the creative guidance of LA-based architect Johnson Fain and Rios Clementi Hale Studios. The team will attempt to reinvent Philip Johnson’s iconic building by transforming it into a new form-Christ Cathedral. A new volume will be inserted into the existing building and over 10,000 glass panes of the current exterior will be covered with metal ‘petals’ to combat glare and heat.

The architects’ intention was to create a modern new look for the church while honoring the original building. The all-glass evangelical church was originally built in 1981, but soon experienced issues with heat and glare. The Diocese of Orange has just announced that the building’s reinvention will be entrusted to architect Johnson Fain, who will focus on architecture and interiors, while Clementi Hale Studios will be in charge of masterplanning and landscape works.

A new volume will be inserted into the 12-storey building covered with over 10,000 glass panes. Because of performance issues such as heat and glare, the team has decided to cover the existing glass exterior with triangular metal panels called ‘petals’. The path of sun throughout the day is digitally mapped, which enables natural light to reach the interior only under a certain angle. In addition to this, the new cladding system will enable natural ventilation.